Tortola Sloops - History In The Remaking

The Tortola Sloop evolved in the 19th century as the singular means of transportation between the Virgin Islands suiting the living needs and sea conditions of its peoples. They were the transportation backbone for the Virgin Islands economy for the better half of the last century. Some 20 to 30 feet in length, Edwin Doran describes the Tortola sloop as having "considerable sheer and pronounced overhang fore and aft. Although the mast is stepped on the keel one-third of the latter's length toward the stern, its pronounced rake and the long overhang of bow and stern make it appear to be located about the middle of the boat. Mast and boom approximate the overall boat length, and the boom extends far beyond the transom over the water. The typical Tortola sloop has a leg-of-mutton mainsail and an overlapping, genoa type jib with sail cloths sewed parallel to the leech."

There are now only two Tortola Sloops afloat but moves are afoot to more than double that number with three Tortola Sloop construction projects underway in the BVI. The first is the construction of a 21st Century Island Sloop on Jost Van Dyke to "evoke the tradition of island boat building, yet meet the rules for safety and seaworthiness that are needed in today's world". The second is the renovation of Vigilant, verifiably the oldest Island Sloop in existence. The third is on the shores of Anegada.

The first new sloop, classified as a JVD 32. is being built by the Jost Van Dyke Preservation Society (JVDPS) with Captain Kevin Gray as the Project Director and a support team of Jost Van Dyke residents. The sloop is being built as a sail training vessel to educate the youth in sailing and modern boat building and to serve as a flagship for the Society and the island.

"For years we have dreamed of creating a new wooden sloop," says Foxy Callwood, Chairman of the Society, who has long sponsored the Wooden Boat Regatta with the assistance of the West End Yacht Club. "We have had many alternative design ideas and feedback from our islanders who sailed the traditional sloops in their youth. They helped us reach the final design of the JVD32. This becomes another element that establishes the British Virgin Islands as a haven for sailing." Foxy explains.

Three high school students worked during their Easter break to build the essential jig and strong back for the construction. 'Stations' or cross sections have been assembled from the blue prints provided by Mark Gammon N/A PhD. from Canada's Defense Research and Development Agency and teacher of naval architecture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. The students, Ruby Pickering, Gawain Walters, and Delvin Leonard hope to continue working full-time during the summer break.

The JVDPS is a private, not-for-profit corporation undertaking projects that support education and preservation of the history, culture, and environment of Jost Van Dyke and the adjacent cays. "The modern world comes to our island, and we believe that the Society can help educate our youth and provide guidance for capturing those elements of island life that makes Jost Van Dyke a very special place," says Foxy.

Funding for the sloop construction comes from a wide-variety of contributors. The West End Yacht Club that manages the Wooden Boat Regatta has been contributing entries fees that became the founding nest egg for the Society. Many more contributions for the sloop are needed and the Society is seeking additional support as the construction process is well underway. All residents and tourists are invited to stop by see the construction underway in Great Harbour.

Meanwhile at West End on Tortola, Vigilant, verifiably the oldest Island Sloop in existence is undergoing much-needed renovation after falling into disrepair. Vigilant was built by Mr. Willie Penn, of East End, Tortola, in 1882 and has maintained her name, to date, despite changing ownership several times. She is best known historically for her transportation of goods and passengers between the islands of Tortola, St. Thomas, St. John and Jost Van Dyke twice a month. Today, she lies in tatters, broken and lost, at the Sand Spit in West End, Tortola. Forgotten by many and yet she is the most historic vessel in the Caribbean.

Vigilant's history is interesting. It was first sold to Mr. Bim Thomas and then later to Mr. Isiah Stoutt, both of Tortola. During this time the boat capsized twice but was rescued and repaired. In 1920, Vigilant was purchased by Abraham MacTavious, who ran the island sloop until he became ill and relinquished the duties to his son Oliver. In 1952, Randolph (Oliver's younger brother) took the helm and held it until the college bought it in 1994. During the entire 74 years of MacTavious Family ownership, Vigilant lay moored at her homeport at Hannah's Bay.

When Vigilant was turned over to the local college it was kept in fine shape with maintenance done by Osmond Davies and his sons. Davies was honored in 1998 by the West End Yacht Club of Tortola for his contribution towards island sloops and for his hard labour on Vigilant which, until recently, yearly raced in both the Classic Yacht Regatta held in February at Sopers Hole and at Foxy's Wooden Boat Regatta. Her captains were instructors at the college and her crew were students. Vigilant was the subject of numerous articles in international sailing magazines and books on the art of building island sloops - quite a coup for the BVI.

But when Osmond Davies retired due to poor health Vigilant fell into disrepair and members of the West End Yacht Club are actively trying to return Vigilant to her former glory.

Last August last year, in a landmark event, the country's leader, the Honourable Dr Orlando Smith and the Governor of the BVI, Tom "the sailing governor" Macan, took the water in two contemporary (and only sailable) Tortola Sloops - Youth Instructor (2000) and Moonbeam (1989) in a demonstration race to coincide with the BVI's emancipation celebrations. Once a staple of these August celebrations, Tortola Sloops have not raced during 'the Festival' since the 60s. The two-race event held on the waterfront of Road Town, fortuitously for détente, ended in a tie.

In the first race, the Governor, sailing the smaller and slower Moonbeam bested the Chief Minister at the start and held him off until the windward mark where the Chief, showing some unexpected aplomb (he hasn't sailed since he was a boy), managed to gybe inside the Governor, blanket him and then carry on to extend his lead a victorious first race win.

For the second race, the teams swapped boats with the Governor in the larger and faster Youth Instructor. With a good start in the faster boat, the Governor was guaranteed his victory.

However, gloves will come off next year, when it is hoped that a sistership to Moonbeam will be on the water. Currently under construction on the shores of Anegada, she is being traditionally built with wood hand hewn from the Buttonwood and Pokemeboy trees using cutlasses (machetes), hand saws, axes and "blood sharp" adzes.

The Chief Minister sailed with Laurence Blok from the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC), Dwayne Smith, VP of the VI Power Boat Association and Quinten Henley, a Marine Studies student at the HLSCC. The Governor sailed with two BVI Olympians Elvett Meyers and John Shirley together with Sam Davies, brother to the late Osmond Davies, who built Youth Instructor.

The event was organized by the VI Powerboat Association and the West End Yacht Club to highlight the marine heritage of the BVI and the plight of the Vigilant.

The JVDPS has established a US-based non-profit organization "The JVD Preservation Society". Tax deductible donations can be sent to: JVDPS Inc., c/o Mr. John Kreutzer, 326 First Street, 37B, Annapolis, MD 21403 USA. Visit http://www.sloopnews.org to follow the progress.

The Island Sloop Society, supported by the West End Yacht Club has its primary goal the support of sloop building & preservation focused initially on the three remaining sloops owned by the H. Lavity Stoutt College. Donations can be made by contacting Geoff Brooks--Brewers Bay or Dave Cooper--Commodore, West End Yacht Club at captdave@surfbvi.com. Visit http://www.weyc.net for more information. $30,000 is the fundraising goal for the restoration of Vigilant.